The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1887-05-26

Devils Dance Comes Forth and Soares
| Folks.
(From the New York Star)
Once again spooks have made their
debut in Lovo Lane, and the supersti-
tlous citizens, particularly those of the
colorado maduro brand, who reside
within the bailiwicks of New Utrecht
and West Flatbush, L. l., near tho
southwestern border Of Greenwood
cemetery, and who arc compelled to
pass that marble city after dark, never
consider themselves in full dress unless
they have .pocketful of brick or wear
carbines with nues like water mains.
If tha neighboring darkoys are to be
believed, the spook can only be seen at
midnight. At recent meeting Of the
New Utretch Watermelon Coterie, Pan
try and Vestry, held hear Farmer Ber-
rvs chicken preserve, eight of the mem
bors testified that they had timed the
spectre by their watches. One of tho
secretaries, who is assistant orpanist and
plays the chimes in the local colored
church, and whose word is fully as good
as his bond, said that he was the only
man in the club whose watch was fit for
anything but tobacco box, as it was the
only one that contained any intestines,
but that tho others had the time of the
appearance of the spook down fine. He
was with the others when they saw the
spirit, and they all got SO frightened that
ms watch stopped. He said that he was
the frst man homo that night, as the
others forgot where they lived.
lt is O a'dltlicult task to mako the aver
age co!orcd citizen Of the Kings county
towns believe that tho present spook is
NOT the same that is said to have appear
ed to the oldest of them in their Younger
days. Love Lane, which borders the
greenwood fnuce, has legend to this
efiect Long, long ago an aged darkey,
who had been performing as on cxecu-
tive orchestra at husking beo in Gowa-
nus, was returning home during the dis
NAL hours of the morning. lie had
nearly reached tho old toll gate, when
Satan climbed over the fence or THROUGH
it, and compelled the aged fiddler to
play for him. The orchestra turned
pale inch by inch, and his hair visibly
unklnked, until his hat looked as if it
were built on stills, but still he was COM
PEELED to scrapo away for dear life.
when his Satanic majesty had his savage
breast sufficiently soothod he wound up
the matinee by dancing a breakdown,
and, dashing his hoof against near by
bowlder, Disappeared in spiral cloud
OF sulphurous smoke.
The stone is thero yet, and the hoof-
print IS still an awe-inspiring sight to
the children and many of the older peo-
pie of the towns. The weird and hair
erecting stone is Stunned after dark. and
there are many who will tell you that
his Majesty holds picnics there at about
this season every year. He never ap-
pears III winter or summer, probably
because of his aversion to extreme cold
or diluted heat. 1t is shuddery spot,
to say the least.
Within the past few weeks tho spoolz
has rcappeared on the scene of its old
time orgies, and has been seen byseveral
citizens whose words can be relied ,,pon,
although they take no stock in the super
natural. A well known res:uont of tho
Eighth ward, whose place of business is
near the Fifth avenro entrance to
Greenwood, saw the Gsion one night
last week. He was driving past the
Fort Hamilton avenue entrance to the
cemetery when the spectre showed I'D,
causing his horse to shy. The spook
appeared to come directly through tho
1ence, IN which there was no opening.
1t passed Immediately in front of the
horse, which suddenly stopped and re-
fused to budge. The gentleman risked
shot at It. The discharge was greeted
with a hollow, chuckling laugh, and the
gentleman started his horse on q dead
run toward home. Ho says that tho
figure or whatever it might have been
had dark cloak on and wore horns.
William Pye, who was formerly q
stnc!..loiuer under tho old fashioned
track K sheds in the gin and tansy days of
the turf, but who is now n junk numis-
matlat through the country towns, is
emphatic in his assertion that he has
seen the spoOk on several occasions. He
remembers the old legend Of Love Lane,
and says he can bring scores Of citizens
who have since indulged in involuntary
Introductions to his spookship. Numer-
GUS other residents Of the neighborhood
are willing to testify to like encounter.
A resident of Windsor terrace in West
Flatbush also saw tho 'thing," and saws
that it was garbed in black, wore horns
and had hoofs. He says that he was re-
turning home the other night and when
near the ''DoviPs Stone" the vision ap-
peared to rise up out of the ground i'm
mediately in front of him.
81 was almost scared to death" he
sald, "but plucking up courage [ threw
a stone at it. The stone went clear
through it and L could see the holo it
made"
This last assertion may be something
OF an exaggeration due to fright as tho
gentleman admits he was Sc scared that
nc lost his hat and was in huch o hurry
that he didn't stop to pick it up.
A South Brooklyn florist whose bust
ness interests in the cemetery will not
permit of his name being used said:
"Ihcre's something strange on the
other end of the cemetery, but L can't
explain it. I've seen it myself, and so
have a number of my friends. I think
possibly it is somebody who is endeavor-
ing to play prank on the weak-minded.
a party OF us arc going to solve tho mat
ter some night this week, and we expect
some fun. If it is a spirit it will stand
no chance with us as we are used to
spirits. Yes, | have heard of the Devils